Why a Good Car Accident Lawyer Can Make All the Difference

Car accidents accounted for over 33,500 fatalities and more than 2,300,000 injuries during 2012 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  Motor vehicle accidents touch the lives of many families and result in staggering costs, physical hardships and other challenging consequences.  Because people do not anticipate car accidents, they often are unsure how to respond when they occur.  If an injury victim has never had reason to work with a lawyer, the prospect of contacting and interviewing attorneys can be a daunting proposition.

Some auto accident victims make the mistake of attempting to negotiate directly with the other driver’s insurance company.  This might include discussing the case with the other driver’s insurance adjuster under the assumption that the injury victim’s accident claim will be settled in a reasonable period of time.  However, the maxim that “an individual who represents oneself has a fool for a client” is worth considering in this situation.  Even if you are apprehensive about hiring a lawyer, it can be a big mistake not to avail yourself of a free consultation to at least learn about your legal rights and what needs to be done to protect those rights.

There are a number of ways that an experienced Fulton County auto accident attorney can substantially increase the likelihood of a positive outcome in your auto accident claim, such as:

• Preventing Damaging Disclosures: While the insurance adjuster for the other driver might seem cooperative and helpful, the insurance adjuster has a financial incentive to develop a justification for denying or minimizing your claim.  Insurance company representatives handle a plethora of claims, so they have the experience to effectively extract facts and statements that will damage your claim.  Facts that might seem insignificant can turn out to compromise an aspect of your case.  An experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer will handle communications with the insurance company. 
• Accurately Determining Value: Without experience settling and litigating car accident claims, a layperson will not be able to accurately determine the value of a claim.  An attorney can draw on past case experience, jury verdicts and settlements involving similar facts when determining whether a settlement offer is reasonable.
• Navigating Procedural Requirements and Deadlines: There are a multitude of time deadlines, procedural, evidentiary and court rules that must be successfully negotiated to obtain an optimal settlement or judgment.  If you are not represented by a knowledgeable attorney, you have little chance of being successful.  The technical rules and deadlines involved in pursuing a personal injury claim and/or civil lawsuit are extremely sophisticated and complex, so you will derive a lot of benefit from a law firm that navigates the civil litigation process on a regular basis.
• Gathering Evidence & Expert Testimony: The process of developing evidence when pursuing an auto accident claim is an important part of negotiating a settlement or pursuing a verdict.  The process of gathering evidence, depending on the particular case, might involve conducting an investigation, gathering medical evidence, speaking to witnesses and/or effectively using the discovery tools like subpoenas, interrogatories, requests for admission, document demands and depositions.  Our auto collision lawyers also work with a range of experts, which might include doctors, vocational counselors, accident reconstruction experts, economists and others.

The insurance company has a lot of experience dealing with claims, and finding ways to pay as little as they can, or nothing at all if possible.  Hiring an experienced auto accident lawyer helps levels the playing field. 

Put Our Law Firm's Over 39 Years of Experience to Work For Your Case

If your or a family member is injured in a car crash, these are just a few of the tasks that an experienced car accident attorney can do more effectively than someone who lacks the training and experience.  Montlick and Associates has been representing those who suffer serious injuries throughout all of Georgia and in the Southeast for over thirty years, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state.  No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333).  You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.